Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-20
Names Business Boom.

Names Business Boom.
The business boom in this State has
evidently "come to stay and to exercise
deep and lasting influence upon the
future of the people. Unlike the Fictitious
booms which have suddenly arisen in
other States and as suddenly collapsed,
this has been OF slow growth and in
creases in strength as time rolls on.
A few years since the feeling prevailed
largely in the State that this was no place
for men of enterprise. Hence there was
general desire to seek business in some
other quarter Of the country. The young
men left the homestead and sought EN-.
ployment in the large cities or in the
mines, or upon the new lands OF the West.
Those of ripper years who had accumulated
property went elsewhere to invest it.
Croakers filled our streets and dissatis-
faction became wide spread. Those who
had the courage to speak of the advantages
of the State in business point of view
had few hearers, and those mostly in
credulous. The State suffered. Property
| fell in value. The census revealed that
things were at a standstill or going back
wards.
Gradually however, great and health
full change has been wrought. In our bust
ness centres there is greater activity than
has been known for years. The resour'
ces and advantages of the State are be-
coming understood and appreciated. Our
people have awakened to the fact that
they have a goodly heritage needing only
development to render it attractive and
prosperous. Our seaboard is fast becom
| ing the great summer resort OF the coun'
try. Mount Desert is blooming with
handsome residences. The beauty, fash
ion and wealth of the great cities congre.
gate there during the sultry summer
months. So all along our extensive
coast there is wonderful revival of solid
prosperity. 1t extends from Kittery to
Quoddy Head. And not only along the
seashore, but the lakesides and mountain
tops have the boom and profit by it. We
can scarcely take up local paper that
we do not see in it reports OF mills aud
factories building and other new indus.
trial operations, and sales and purchases
of real estate at advanced prices for pur.
poses OF Improvement.
The distinguishing feature of much OF
this business movement is that it is moi
caused by speculation but rests upon a
basis as solid and durable as that which
underlies any business. OF course it is
impossible to keep the hands OF specula'
tors out of such operations which hold out
hope of money making, but there goes
along with the purchases of real estate the
past year genuine purpose to occupy
and make permanent and valuable i'm
provements upon these lands. Herein is
the great importance of the business boom
in Maine. 1t has continued long enough
and manifested sufficient fruit to attest its
substantial character.
| We have no doubt that it is the begin
ming of an era of prosperity to the State
1t has reached all our communities and
our people are governing themselves by
| its indications. There is the sunshine OF
hope upon the faces of many OF our peo-
pie at the prospect ahead, where for a
long time dependency and doubt alone
were seen. AS we are going down the
last months OF 1887, we find that the boom
is increasing. We trust another year will
bring better things for our State than that
which is now passing, though the present
has exceeded our expectations. Our own
city we trust will take long step forward
in the march of prosperity. The work has
been well begun and will continue.